Ten killed in Bangui violence

January 23, 2014 - 7:29:46 am

BANGUI: At least 10 people were killed in fresh clashes yesterday in the conflict-riven Central African Republic capital, witnesses said, just two days after new leader Catherine Samba-Panza appealed for peace.

Violence broke out overnight between local residents and ex-fighters near a military barracks for former fighters from the Seleka rebellion in the city centre, they said.

Witnesses who asked not to be named said they saw the bodies of six former fighters and four Christian civilians near a cantonment for the ex-Seleka in the capital.

The mainly Muslim Seleka were the leaders of the March 2013 coup that overthrew the government and installed their leader as the country’s first Muslim president, triggering a descent into chaos.

Tensions in the area around the Seleka camp remained high yesterday afternoon, after African and French troops intervened, local residents said.

Soldiers with the 4,400-strong African force MISCA were also forced to intervene Wednesday to stop looting in the north of Bangui.